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Review Canon 77D: small and powerful

Jan Paul Mioulet, 19 January 2018

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The Canon EOS 77D is a compact and affordable SLR camera with many capabilities. It has the convenience and dimensions of a starter model like the Canon EOS 800D, but the options of the EOS 80D. That makes it an ideal camera for both beginners and slightly more advanced photographers.

Canon 77D + EF-S 10-22mm @ 10mm, 800 ISO, f/5.6, 1/250 sec

Canon 77D: Light and affordable

In terms of price, the Canon EOS 77D is only slightly above the EOS 800D. The 77D corresponds in broad strokes to that camera and shares the sensor and DIGIC 7 processor with the 800D. It also has the new Canon interface with on-screen advice that makes choosing the right setting easier. On the other hand, the 77D looks more like the more expensive - and clearly heavier (730 vs 540 grams) - EOS 80D. For example, like the 80D, it has two setting wheels and an LCD on the top. But the Canon 80D is better protected against dust and splash water. The controls options of the 77D are much more extensive than of the 800D. For example, you can control the 77D remotely with an app on your smartphone, and you cannot do that with the 800D. Here and there, the 77D offers even more than the slightly older EOS 80D, such as a more modern sensor, for example. The Digic7 processor is a generation newer, and the ISO value goes one full stop higher to 25600. You could say that the EOS 77D offers the best of both worlds. It is a great camera for beginning photographers, but also a camera that grows with you when you start wanting more and look for more options.

Autofocus

The Canon EOS 77D has Dual Pixel AF on the sensor. You'll enjoy that when using the screen. In combination with the latest Canon EF-S 18-135 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM with nano-USM motor, the 77D quickly focuses in live view. One of the strengths of Dual Pixel AF is the good facial recognition in live view and the ability to focus on subjects and to keep tracking them. This is also reflected in the 77D. Because of this good facial recognition and the excellent tracking, it is even recommended to use the 77D with the screen for photographing people. You can also use Dual Pixel AF well while filming. Simply tap the screen, and the camera focuses on the subject. Turn the camera on and shoot. You don't have to worry about keeping the autofocus on continuously. In general, the camera keeps a sharp focus on the subject, and if you want to focus on something else, just tap anywhere on your screen. Thanks to the Dual Pixel AF, the focus generally glides smoothly to the next subject without ugly searching.

If you prefer using the viewfinder over the screen, then the 77D has an AF system with 45 cross-type AF points. It works quickly and reliably. The system is also capable of face recognition, but that does not work as well as when using the screen with Dual Pixel AF.

Canon 77D: BUILD QUALITY, COMPETITORS & FEATUREs

The Canon EOS 77D has a lightweight plastic body that, according to Canon, is not extra-well sealed against moisture and dust. Nevertheless, the camera still feels solid. It sits nicely in the hand, and the dimensions are just right, as long as you do not put very big telephoto lenses on it. In terms of size, the camera is similar to the less expensive EOS 800D, but the 77D offers much more in terms of operation. They seem like small things, but they make a big difference. The 77D has an LCD on top of the camera, on which you can see all the important settings. The 77D also has two rotary knobs that make it easier to set your exposure. You can use them for manual setting of aperture and shutter speed, or in one of the semi-automatic modes, for setting the aperture and any exposure correction, for example. The 77D also has an extra AF-on button, so you can disconnect the autofocus from the shutter release button. These are all things that can make a difference for more experienced photographers in their enjoyment of operating the camera. The viewfinder is of the pentamirror type. It is bright, but the viewfinder image is not very large and only shows 95% of the image. That is reasonable in this class, but not great. The screen on the back is nice and large and turns, tilts and is touch sensitive. Those who want to use a camera like a kind of big smartphone have a good camera with the 77D. The touch focus works well, and operating the menus via the touchscreen is also really nice. Thanks to the turning and tilting screen, you can also easily take photos from very high or low perspectives.

IMAGE QUALITY

Canon 77D + EF-S 10-22mm @ 16mm, 2500 ISO, f/4, 1/30 sec

The Canon EOS 77D has the latest 24-megapixel CMOS sensor with Dual Pixel AF and the latest Digic 7 processor. The image quality of the 77D is comparable to that of the 80D, and we were very impressed by that. We could not find a difference in image quality between the 80D (with a Digic6 processor) and the 77D (with a Digic7 processor).

We measured the dynamic range by taking a picture that has been exposed in such a way that there is no clipping of the highlights ("expose to the right"). We then looked at the noise in the shadows with Imatest. The dynamic range is greatly improved relative to older Canon APS-C models. The 77D does not quite reach the level of the best APS-C sensors in this area, but does not disappoint and is more than good enough for average users.

Canon EOS 77D sample images

COLOR RENDERING

The colors in the jpg files in the standard image style are, as we are accustomed to from Canon, excellent, and the sharpness and detail are good. At higher ISO values you will of course increasingly suffer from noise, but for most photographers, ISO 1600 and 3200 will certainly be usable, and above that it is a matter of how much noise you find acceptable and the size at which you're going to use the images.

Canon 77D + EF 50 mm f/1.8 II @ 100 ISO, f/3.5, 1/100 sec

Video

The Canon EOS 77D can film in full HD up to 60 frames per second. The image quality corresponds to what many competitors also produce in this area. For the average vacation video, it's fine. What's more important than the last bit of sharpness is that the Dual Pixel AF provides good autofocus. That makes filming with the EOS 77D much easier than with SLR cameras that do not have good autofocus in live view and where you can only work with the focus setting in advance. This produces sharper and more useful videos. The 77D also features digital image stabilization. Although digital image stabilization is always at the expense of sharpness, it offers many advantages when it comes to the overall quality of a video clip. All in all, the 77D is a nice camera for making your own home videos. It also has a microphone input so that you can easily provide your recordings with reasonably good sound.

PROS

Great controls

Good 24-megapixel sensor

Good, turning touchscreen

Dual Pixel AF

Image stabilization with video

CONS

Dynamic range

No 4K video

Canon EOS 77D is a small, nice SLR camera.

The Canon 77D is only slightly heavier and more expensive than the EOS 800D, but it offers comparatively much more ease of use. That means that it is a camera you will outgrow much less quickly. The 77D is ideal for photographers who are looking for a versatile but lightweight Canon with an optical viewfinder. It is also a nice model for photographers who want to upgrade or get started with the Canon system and who are looking for a camera that they can use for a longer time.